=== FYP News Ticker - Scrolling News Banner & Announcement Bar for WordPress ===
Contributors: francoisyerg
Tags: news ticker, scrolling banner, announcement bar, breaking news, notification banner
Requires at least: 6.0
Tested up to: 7.1
Requires PHP: 8.0
Stable tag: 1.1.1
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Grab attention with scrolling news banners. 3 professional templates, drag-and-drop builder, scheduled announcements. No coding needed.

== Description ==

**Stop Important News from Getting Buried - Grab Attention Instantly!**

Your visitors miss 90% of static announcements. FYP News Ticker creates eye-catching scrolling banners that capture attention and ensure your important messages get seen - perfect for promotions, breaking news, and urgent updates.

= What You'll Get (Real Benefits, Not Technical Features) =

✓ **Impossible to Miss** - Scrolling movement naturally draws eyes better than static banners
✓ **Increase Conversions** - Perfect for displaying limited-time offers and promotions that drive action
✓ **Keep Visitors Informed** - Announce events, updates, and important information without interrupting their experience
✓ **Professional Appearance** - Beautiful animated banners make your site look dynamic and modern
✓ **Save Time** - Schedule announcements in advance and they appear/disappear automatically
✓ **No Page Slowdown** - Lightweight animation with zero performance impact
✓ **Works Everywhere** - Display at top, bottom, or anywhere in your content

= Why Choose FYP News Ticker Over Others? =

**VS Free Alternatives:**
- **3 Beautiful Templates** - Others give you 1 basic scrolling text
- **Drag-and-Drop Builder** - Free plugins require manual coding
- **Scheduled Publishing** - Others show everything all the time
- **9 Custom Icons** - Most plugins are text-only

**VS Premium Plugins ($39-$79):**
- **Same Features** - Multiple templates, icons, scheduling, drag-and-drop
- **Just as Beautiful** - Professional animations and modern designs
- **Easier to Use** - Simple interface vs complex configuration
- **Regular Updates** - Actively maintained and WordPress compatible

**VS Custom Coding:**
- **Save 10+ Hours** - Ready in 5 minutes vs days of development
- **No Animation Hassles** - We handle smooth scrolling, pause on hover, responsive design
- **Maintenance Free** - We keep it compatible with WordPress updates
- **Tested & Reliable** - Works across all browsers and devices

= Real-World Use Cases =

**🛍️ E-Commerce Sites** - "🔥 Flash Sale: 50% Off Everything - 24 Hours Only!"
**📢 Business Websites** - "New Office Hours | Holiday Schedule | Important Update"
**🎓 Educational Sites** - "Registration Opens Monday | Exam Schedule Posted"
**📰 News & Media** - "Breaking News | Latest Updates | Live Coverage"
**🎉 Event Websites** - "Early Bird Tickets Available | Only 50 Spots Left!"
**🏢 SaaS & Tech** - "System Maintenance Tonight 10PM-2AM | New Feature Released"

= 3 Professional Templates =

No design skills needed - each template is professionally crafted:

1. **Default** - Classic scrolling banner perfect for any announcement
2. **Modern** - Stylish card design with icon highlighting
3. **Minimal** - Clean text-only layout for professional sites

= Key Features =

✓ Unlimited news tickers (create as many as you need)
✓ Drag-and-drop to reorder announcements
✓ 9 attention-grabbing icons (megaphone, bell, star, fire, gift, warning, info, check, arrow)
✓ Schedule start and end dates for auto-display
✓ Control scroll speed and direction
✓ Pause on hover for readability
✓ Make items clickable (link to product pages, posts, etc.)
✓ Custom colors to match your brand
✓ Fully responsive on mobile
✓ Show/hide specific items temporarily
✓ Limit how many items display
✓ SEO-friendly with proper HTML
✓ Translation ready

= Simple to Use =

1. Create new ticker from News Tickers menu
2. Add announcements with drag-and-drop builder
3. Choose template and customize colors
4. Copy shortcode and paste anywhere
5. Done! Scrolling banner appears automatically

**No configuration required** - smart defaults work perfectly, customize only when you want specific behavior.

Part of the FYPlugins ecosystem - professional WordPress solutions trusted by thousands of websites.

== Usage ==

= Getting Started (3 Minutes) =

1. **Create Ticker** - Go to News Tickers -> Add New
2. **Add Items** - Click "Add News Item" and enter your announcements
3. **Customize** - Choose template, icons, colors (optional)
4. **Display** - Copy shortcode and paste in any page, post, or widget
5. **Done!** - Scrolling banner appears on your site

= Common Use Cases =

**Simple announcement banner:**
`[fyplugins_news_ticker id="123"]`

**Fast-scrolling promotions:**
`[fyplugins_news_ticker id="123" speed="100"]`

**Modern template with right scroll:**
`[fyplugins_news_ticker id="123" template="modern" direction="right"]`

**Show only 3 most recent items:**
`[fyplugins_news_ticker id="123" limit="3"]`

**Custom styled banner:**
`[fyplugins_news_ticker id="123" template="minimal" class="top-banner"]`

**No pause on hover (continuous scroll):**
`[fyplugins_news_ticker id="123" pause_on_hover="false"]`

== Shortcode Parameters ==

**Main Shortcode:** `[fyplugins_news_ticker id="123"]`

The `id` parameter is required - get it from the ticker edit screen in admin.

= Display Options =
* **template** - Visual style: `default` (classic banner), `modern` (card style), `minimal` (text only)
* **class** - Add custom CSS classes for styling

= Animation Control =
* **speed** - Scroll speed in pixels per second (default: 50, try 100 for faster or 25 for slower)
* **direction** - Scroll direction: `left` or `right` (default: left)
* **pause_on_hover** - Pause when hovering: `true` or `false` (default: true)

= Content Selection =
* **limit** - Maximum items to display (default: 0 for all active items)

= Real-World Examples =

**Flash sale banner (fast, attention-grabbing):**
`[fyplugins_news_ticker id="123" speed="100" template="modern"]`

**Event countdown (right to left):**
`[fyplugins_news_ticker id="456" direction="right" template="modern"]`

**Breaking news (continuous scroll):**
`[fyplugins_news_ticker id="789" pause_on_hover="false" speed="75"]`

**Subtle updates (minimal, slow):**
`[fyplugins_news_ticker id="321" template="minimal" speed="30"]`

**Top banner (show 5 items only):**
`[fyplugins_news_ticker id="654" limit="5" class="header-banner"]`

**Multiple tickers on same page:**
`[fyplugins_news_ticker id="111" template="modern" class="promo-ticker"]`
`[fyplugins_news_ticker id="222" template="minimal" class="info-ticker"]`

== Building Your News Ticker ==

= Creating Announcements =

1. **Add Item** - Click "Add News Item" button
2. **Enter Title** - Your announcement text (e.g., "50% Off Everything Today!")
3. **Choose Icon** - Select from 9 icons or leave empty (megaphone, bell, star, fire, gift, warning, info, check, arrow)
4. **Add Link** - Optional URL to make announcement clickable
5. **Schedule** - Set start/end dates for automatic display (leave empty for always visible)
6. **Status** - Check "Active" to show immediately

= Managing Items =

**Reorder:** Drag and drop items to change display order
**Edit:** Click item to modify text, icon, link, or dates
**Hide:** Uncheck "Active" to temporarily hide without deleting
**Delete:** Remove permanently using delete button

= Scheduling Tips =

**Limited-time offer:** Set start date (today) and end date (Friday)
**Upcoming event:** Set start date (next week) with no end date
**Holiday hours:** Set start (Dec 24) and end (Jan 2) dates
**Flash sale:** Set precise times with start and end dates

== Installation ==

= Automatic Installation (Recommended) =
1. Go to WordPress admin -> **Plugins -> Add New**
2. Search for **"FYP News Ticker"**
3. Click **"Install Now"** then **"Activate"**
4. Go to **News Tickers -> Add New**
5. Create your first ticker and add announcements
6. Copy shortcode and paste anywhere on your site

= Manual Installation =
1. Download the plugin ZIP file
2. Go to **Plugins -> Add New -> Upload Plugin**
3. Upload ZIP and click **"Install Now"**
4. Activate the plugin
5. Follow steps 4-6 above

= Quick Test =
1. Create a ticker with 2-3 test announcements
2. Add this to any page: `[fyplugins_news_ticker id="YOUR_ID"]`
3. View the page to see your scrolling banner!

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Will this work with my theme? =
Yes! FYP News Ticker works with all WordPress themes. The templates use clean HTML and CSS that adapts to your theme's styling.

= How do I create my first news ticker? =
Go to News Tickers -> Add New, give it a name, click "Add News Item" to add announcements, publish, and copy the shortcode. Paste the shortcode anywhere you want the banner to appear.

= Can I reorder the announcements? =
Yes! Simply drag and drop items using the handle on the left. The order you set in the admin is the order they'll scroll in.

= How do I schedule announcements? =
When adding or editing a news item, use the "Start date" and "End date" fields. The item will only display between those dates. Leave empty for permanent display.

= Can I make announcements clickable? =
Yes! Add a URL in the "Link" field. When visitors click the announcement, they'll go to that URL. Perfect for promotions or event pages.

= How do I change scroll speed? =
Use the `speed` parameter in the shortcode. Default is 50. Higher numbers (100) scroll faster, lower numbers (25) scroll slower. Experiment to find what works best.

= Can I pause scrolling when someone hovers over it? =
Yes! This is the default behavior. Set `pause_on_hover="false"` if you want continuous scrolling without pausing.

= How do I customize colors? =
Go to News Tickers -> Settings -> Design tab and customize colors to match your brand. Changes apply to all tickers using that template.

= Can I temporarily hide an announcement without deleting it? =
Yes! When editing a ticker, uncheck the "Active" checkbox for any item you want to hide temporarily. Re-check it later to show it again.

= Can I create multiple different tickers? =
Absolutely! Create unlimited tickers, each with different announcements, templates, and settings. Use different shortcodes to display them on different pages.

= Will this slow down my website? =
No! The plugin uses CSS animations and lightweight JavaScript for smooth performance with minimal resource usage. Most sites see no measurable impact.

= Does it work on mobile devices? =
100% responsive! All templates work beautifully on smartphones and tablets with touch-friendly interactions.

= Can I use it with page builders? =
Yes! Works with Elementor, Beaver Builder, Divi, Gutenberg, and all major page builders. Just add the shortcode in a text/shortcode element.

== Screenshots ==

1. **Drag-and-drop builder** - Easy management interface with visual item ordering
2. **3 professional templates** - Default, Modern, and Minimal styles for any use case
3. **Schedule announcements** - Set start and end dates for automatic display
4. **9 custom icons** - Add visual interest with megaphone, bell, star, fire, and more

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.1.0 =
This version requires PHP 8.0 or higher. Please upgrade PHP before updating the plugin.

== Changelog ==

= 1.1.1 =
(September 2026) - Bug fix
* UPDATE: Core to version 1.4.1 to fix appearance colors settings not really saving.
* UPDATE: Tested up to WordPress 7.1.

= 1.1.0 =
(August 2026) - Core and admin improvement
* UPDATE: Core to version 1.4.0.
* UPDATE: Code quality.
* UPDATE: Tested up to WordPress 7.0.
* UPDATE: Admin page.

= 1.0.0 =
(January 2026) - Initial Release
* Custom post type for managing multiple news tickers
* 3 professional templates (Default, Modern, Minimal)
* Drag-and-drop ordering of news items
* 9 attention-grabbing icons (megaphone, bell, star, fire, gift, warning, info, check, arrow)
* Scheduled publishing with start and end dates
* Customizable scroll speed and direction
* Pause on hover functionality
* Custom colors for brand matching
* Clickable announcements with link support
* Active/inactive status for temporary hiding
* Limit parameter to control displayed items
* Responsive design for all devices
* SEO-friendly with semantic HTML and ARIA labels
* Translation-ready with .pot file
* Multiple instances support